''Aero the Acro-Bat 2'' is a
platform game
A platform game (often simplified as platformer and sometimes called a jump 'n' run game) is a sub-genre of action video games in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are charac ...
developed by
Iguana Entertainment
Acclaim Studios Austin (formerly Iguana Entertainment) was an American video game developer based in Austin, Texas. The company was founded in 1991 by Jeff Spangenberg, previously lead designer for Punk Development, and originally located in S ...
, and published by
Sunsoft
, stylized as SUNSOFT, is a Japanese video game developer and publisher.
Sunsoft is the video games division of Japanese electronics manufacturer Sun Corporation. Its U.S. subsidiary operated under the name Sun Corporation of America, though, a ...
as the sequel of ''
Aero the Acro-Bat
''Aero the Acro-Bat'' is a 1993 video game developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Sunsoft. It was released for both the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis. Aero the Acro-Bat, a red anthropomorphic bat, was created ...
''. It was released for the
Sega Genesis in April 1994 then for the
Super Nintendo Entertainment System in November. The game is dedicated to Brazilian racer
Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva (; 21 March 1960 – 1 May 1994) was a Brazilian racing driver who won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in , , and . Senna is one of three Formula One drivers from Brazil to win the World Championship and ...
, who died in a crash during a Grand Prix.
David Siller planned to port and remake the game for
Game Boy Advance
The (GBA) is a 32-bit handheld game console developed, manufactured and marketed by Nintendo as the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001, in North America on June 11, 2001, in the PAL region on June 22, ...
in
2002, but then cancelled it in favor of original titles.
The Super NES version was re-released for the
Wii Virtual Console
A virtual console (VC) – also known as a virtual terminal (VT) – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some Unix-like operating systems such as Linux, BSD, illumos, Uni ...
in the PAL region on August 6, 2010, and in North America on September 20.
Plot
The story starts directly after the events of the original game, where Aero had knocked Edgar Ektor off of the highest tower of his Museum of Horrors. After knocking him off, Aero leaves to explore Ektor's museum, finding a magician's box which brings him to an ancient castle. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Aero, Ektor's henchman Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel manages to save him before he hits the ground, and Ektor tells Zero to prepare a
'Plan B'.
Gameplay
The game is split into eight worlds, all of them except for the final world with three 'acts' each. The levels are significantly longer than the first game and they are designed in a similar way with many secret areas. There are no objectives, as well as a timer. The goal of each level is to find the exit at the end of every act, defeating enemies and collecting power-ups along the way.
Aero keeps his drill jump from the first game, an ability that can be aimed either diagonally up or down to reach enemies and platforms. New to this game is the ability to aim the drill jump straight down, allowing Aero to attack enemies directly below him. Food can be collected for extra points, and stars can be thrown at enemies to defeat them, much like the original game. There are also four hidden letters in each act that spell the word 'AERO'. Finding all four letters will unlock a cup switching game (it can also be played in the Options Menu) at the end of the act where an extra life can be earned.
Development
Sunsoft
, stylized as SUNSOFT, is a Japanese video game developer and publisher.
Sunsoft is the video games division of Japanese electronics manufacturer Sun Corporation. Its U.S. subsidiary operated under the name Sun Corporation of America, though, a ...
made use of
SGI SGI may refer to:
Companies
*Saskatchewan Government Insurance
*Scientific Games International, a gambling company
*Silicon Graphics, Inc., a former manufacturer of high-performance computing products
*Silicon Graphics International, formerly Rac ...
technology to render the backgrounds of the game.
Release
The game was shown at 1994 Summer
Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago.
Sunsoft
, stylized as SUNSOFT, is a Japanese video game developer and publisher.
Sunsoft is the video games division of Japanese electronics manufacturer Sun Corporation. Its U.S. subsidiary operated under the name Sun Corporation of America, though, a ...
aided by the Spanish company Spaco released the game in Spain along with ''
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel'' and ''
Hebereke's Popoon
is a two player puzzle video game developed and published by Sunsoft. It is based on the ''Hebereke'' series. ''Hebereke'' means drunk or untrustworthy. ''Popoon'' is an onomatopoeia for the sound made by the game pieces when they explode.
The g ...
'' for Christmas 1994.
Reception
Reviewing the Genesis version, ''
GamePro'' raved that "''Aero 2'' outclasses the original with a new, dark theme that shows off some truly superb graphics, new and improved moves and techniques, and better play control". They also praised the game's huge levels and numerous secrets, and singled out the Drop Drill as the best of the new moves.
''
Electronic Gaming Monthly
''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (often abbreviated to ''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews.
History
The m ...
'' described it as a solid and satisfying sequel to the original, citing good graphics, numerous techniques, large levels, and ingeniously designed secret areas. They gave it a 7.75 out of 10.
''
Next Generation'' concurred that the graphics, levels, and techniques all add up to very solid gaming, but criticized both Aero games for being severely lacking in originality.
''NintendoLife'' gave the Virtual Console release of the Super NES version an 8 out of 10, declaring it "a much more varied and playable platforming experience" than the original ''Aero the Acro-Bat''. They specifically noted the improved controls and graphics and the more varied level designs and musical tracks, and added that the game is "every bit as much fun to play now on the Virtual Console service as it was fifteen years ago on the Super Nintendo console".
See also
*''
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel''
References
External links
*
Justin Siller's website
{{Sunsoft
1994 video games
Cancelled Game Boy Advance games
Sunsoft games
Sega Genesis games
Super Nintendo Entertainment System games
Platform games
Video games developed in the United States
Video games set in castles
Video games set in amusement parks
Virtual Console games
Single-player video games